Model Identification Help: Which Mossberg 500 Do I Have?

[EJayne]

I’ve had this 500A now for 25 years. My dad let me skip school and we went and picked it off the used rack in a rundown gun shop. Still my favorite gun in the collection to this day.

However, I’ve tried now for a couple years to figure out which 500 it is. I’ve tried the normal Google route but have found mixed answers. It’s a standard field model with 28” barrel but has a gold trigger and factory engraved scrolling on both sides of the receiver. Gold trigger shows me it’s a pigeon grade, but the engraving is throwing me off. Serial number is P172xxx. Any thoughts?

 

[Duncankurtis]

It has a 7+1 tube. It just says mossberg 500. No other designation. Any info would be appreciated.

 

[John A.]

welcome Duncan.

the mossbergs have models based on several things, but typically:

12 ga= 500A
16 ga= 500B
20 ga=500C
410 ga=500D

Since you have the extended magazine, yours is probably a mossberg 500A cruiser or perhaps a 500A persuader. They've been called different things at different times, but since yours has wooden furniture, it's very likely produced pre-1995. There is a serial number thread on the forum somewhere that has a lot of serial numbers to get you close to the date range.

Granted that they're not exact factory dates or ammo, but is a compilation that Ol Mossy has taken many pains to catalog.

 

[Duncankurtis]

Thanks for the quick reply. It also doesn’t have a choke.

 

[romad]

Thanks for the quick reply. It also doesn’t have a choke.

The serial number thread is here: http://mossbergowners.com/forum/index.php?threads/mossberg-serial-number-data-base.13187/

 

[Duncankurtis]

The serial number thread is here: http://mossbergowners.com/forum/index.php?threads/mossberg-serial-number-data-base.13187/

Thanks

 

[Bobster]

12 ga= 500A
16 ga= 500B
20 ga=500C
410 ga=500D

I believe 28ga is 500D and .410 is 500E...

 

[John A.]

Yep.

You're correct.Though I've never seen a 28ga 500.

 

[Bobster]

Yep.

You're correct.Though I've never seen a 28ga 500.

Me neither. Same goes for the 16ga (500B)...

 

[EJayne]

I’ve had this 500A now for 25 years. My dad let me skip school and we went and picked it off the used rack in a rundown gun shop. Still my favorite gun in the collection to this day.

However, I’ve tried now for a couple years to figure out which 500 it is. I’ve tried the normal Google route but have found mixed answers. It’s a standard field model with 28” barrel but has a gold trigger and factory engraved scrolling on both sides of the receiver. Gold trigger shows me it’s a pigeon grade, but the engraving is throwing me off. Serial number is P172xxx. Any thoughts?View attachment 24930View attachment 24931

Reinvigorating my question if anyone knows which 500 I have? Factory engraved receiver and gold trigger. 28” ported barrel.

Thoughts?

 

[old mossy]

Look's like it's a 1997 P179XXX. Still looking around for the model number. Good looking Mossy!
Thank you for posting your numbers. I'll update our data base.

 

[Joker18]

This is an older thread however I have a customized (by me) Model 500 with the Cruiser barrel setup (7+1), Magpul rear stock, 590A1 trigger assy., Esstac shotshell holder, and a T.L. Racker front slide/light assy. I just ordered a mini shell adapter carrier from Defender Tactical.

 

[EJayne]

Reinvigorating my question if anyone knows which 500 I have? Factory engraved receiver and gold trigger. 28”

After a few years of posting the question of identifying this gun, and after countless attempts of trying it synch with Mossberg, I have found a few things:
1. This is NOT a unique gun. I found a similar gun at a gun show in horrible condition, but with similar make/model and markings. That tells me it’s a factory option.
2. Very little is known about this particular setup but I’m willing to hear from anyone with knowledge and expertise
3. Still shoots and cycles like a champ after 30 yrs of use, so I’ll keep using this enigma as long as it I can. Then it becomes my son’s to use/abuse

Still my favorite shotgun in the collection

 

[Ernst]

After a few years of posting the question of identifying this gun, and after countless attempts of trying it synch with Mossberg, I have found a few things:
1. This is NOT a unique gun. I found a similar gun at a gun show in horrible condition, but with similar make/model and markings. That tells me it’s a factory option.
2. Very little is known about this particular setup but I’m willing to hear from anyone with knowledge and expertise
3. Still shoots and cycles like a champ after 30 yrs of use, so I’ll keep using this enigma as long as it I can. Then it becomes my son’s to use/abuse

Still my favorite shotgun in the collection

Question - does your gun also have a choke installed? Some of the old guns had what was called a C-Elect choke and others had an Accurate choke combined with a ported barrel.

The serial number you noted falls in the 1997 era of manufacture.

Some of these guns with long ported barrels were used used for waterfoul hunting but would have typically had a wooden magazine plug to limit the capacity for legal restrictions. Not sure if yours currently has one?

Some of these had roll type "engraving" vice being hand engraved. Hard to tell from the picture.

If possible could post a picture of the barrel's Mossberg label?

There were gun that were labled as "presentation" grade from year to year but not sure about this one.

All the above info based on my old guy memory but maybe we can better define it with more info.

Regards

 

[EJayne]

Question - does your gun also have a choke installed? Some of the old guns had what was called a C-Elect choke and others had an Accurate choke combined with a ported barrel.

The serial number you noted falls in the 1997 era of manufacture.

Some of these guns with long ported barrels were used used for waterfoul hunting but would have typically had a wooden magazine plug to limit the capacity for legal restrictions. Not sure if yours currently has one?

Some of these had roll type "engraving" vice being hand engraved. Hard to tell from the picture.

If possible could post a picture of the barrel's Mossberg label?

There were gun that were labled as "presentation" grade from year to year but not sure about this one.

All the above info based on my old guy memory but maybe we can better define it with more info.

Regards

I think you might be right the “presentation” model. I got this gun used somewhere between 1996-1997 from a shady second hand gun store so you’re definitely in the right ballpark on the year.

The barrel is ported and has the AccuChoke .

Here’s a shot of the barrel label.

 

[Bobster]

I think you might be right the “presentation” model.

Mossberg has made a number of "special" editions over the years. The numbers of each edition is usually in the 1000s so not usually any extraordinary collector value.

I had this "Ducks Unlimited" 500AL with 28" barrel and "jeweled" bolt. I got it for "regular" value ($200?), it was really "too" nice for me so I sold it for a quick $100 profit. I can't remember if the barrel was ported...

 

[Ernst]

I think you might be right the “presentation” model. I got this gun used somewhere between 1996-1997 from a shady second hand gun store so you’re definitely in the right ballpark on the year.

The barrel is ported and has the AccuChoke .

Here’s a shot of the barrel label.

Here's some additional info for consideration.

You need to confirm but I think your gun has two aiming beads? One at the center of the barrrel and one at the muzzle?

If so, and given the other specifications of barrel length, porting and being choked this gun was likely built and marketed as a "Trap" gun.

Mossberg made some guns back then which were tailored to shooting either Trap or Skeet.

I do think the engraving is rolled vice hand engraved. But hard to tell unless I could actually handle the gun. The type of engraving used is a cost issue during manufacturing and typically only the very high end or individual custom guns were hand engraved. Just a bit of background on engraving - rolled engraving uses a curved plate which is rolled under pressure to create a 3 dimensional look. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. Beyond hand engraving which is both time consuming and very costly there are other methods used today including laser, acid etched and galvanic etching.

I have no idea as to the number of guns Mossberg made in this configuration but likely a run of a few thousand.

Hope some of this info helps. But the biggest issue is that you are enjoying shooting the gun.

Regards